Summary:
Size polymorphism is an important life history trait in bumblebees with strong impact on individual behavior and colony organization. Within a colony larger workers tend to serve as foragers, while smaller workers fulfill in-hive tasks. It is often assumed that size-dependent division of labor relates to differences in task performance. In this study we examined size-dependent interindividual variability in foraging, i.e. whether foraging behavior and foraging capability of bumblebee workers are affected by their size. We observed two freely foraging Bombus terrestris colonies and measured i) trip number, ii) trip time, iii) proportion of nectar trips, and iv) nectar foraging rate of different sized foragers. In all observation periods large foragers exhibited a significantly higher foraging rate than small foragers. None of the other three foraging parameters was affected by worker size. Thus, large foragers contributed disproportionately more to the current nectar influx of their colony. We provide a detailed discussion of the possible proximate mechanisms underlying the differences in foraging rate.
Similar content being viewed by others
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Received 4 June 2001; revised 18 December 2001; accepted 12 February 2002.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Spaethe, J., Weidenmüller, A. Size variation and foraging rate in bumblebees (Bombus terrestris). Insectes soc. 49, 142–146 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00040-002-8293-z
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00040-002-8293-z